Community Facilities Committee
Committee Chair: Dave Wiecking
Don Deraska, George Rayburn, Marty Shecter, Blake Loberg
GENERAL OVERVIEW
The Community Facilities Committee (CFC) is responsible for overseeing the maintenance of, and developing plans for improvements to, the common grounds owned by the Middlesex Beach Association. It was formerly named the Public Works Committee, until someone pointed out that there is very little about Middlesex Beach that is Public.
This includes the roadways and associated grass areas, fencing along the highway, the community signs located in the DelDOT median of Coastal Highway, the Guard House, the walkways to the beach, the dune fencing, beach signage, and, as is stated in the deed to our property, this includes all land “to the waters of the Atlantic Ocean”.
Additionally, the committee has responsibility for the community’s drainage ditches (parts of which are located on individual members’ lots), and the dunes (parts of which are located on individual members’ lots).
The CFC’s primary concern is functionality, but it works with the Landscaping Committee to make things aesthetically pleasing.
None of the various utilities in the community are owned by the MBA.
Many owners rely on plantings on MBA property to shield their view of things beyond their respective lots. However, many times there are legitimate reasons-usually related to drainage, sightlines at intersections, or access to parking spaces on the beach side-why such MBA plantings need to be significantly trimmed back, or removed. If there’s something beyond your property lines that you don’t want to see on a regular basis, consider plantings on your own property (and not directly adjacent a ditch).
ROADS
COMMUNITY DRAINAGE
Evergreen Road – this street will see our next big drainage project due to the large number of corrugated steel pipes under several driveways which are rusting away. In at least one case, MBA has needed to run a smaller diameter ADS pipe through more than one before complete collapse. There are significant obstacles, including landscaping and retaining walls, that are in the way along the existing ditch that will require additional planning and discussion with affected homeowners.
Errett Road – except for a collapsing pipe replacement at 14 Errett, plans are on hold for the work necessary to construct proper swales along the portions of this street that have never had proper community drainage. See THIS CHART, which shows the necessary work in front of each property.
BEACH
The the amount of sand on our beach is the responsibility of our Sand Committee, which oversees the MBA’s work to obtain Army Corps and DNREC permits to be allowed to place dredged sand on our beach should conditions warrent. Generally, any movement of sand on our beach is done by the weather. The CFC does take care of the dune fencing, dune crossing surfaces, Mobi-Mats, beach signage and the lifeguard stands used by our Beach Patrol, and the assorted DNREC permits required to do this work.